Domestic press ironer



A ril 21, 1am N. B. REES 2,038,237

DOMESTIC PRESS IRONER Filed Jan. 5, 1955 SSheets-Sheet 1 22 wllllllllllllIHI|I|IIIIIII M|IHHW Mill! 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS A ril 21, 1936. N. B. REES 2,3&237

DOMESTIC PRESS IRONER Filed Jan. 5-, 1955 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JI/o/ma Bernard/6 6:5

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE DOMESTIC PRESS IRONER Application January 5, 1935, Serial No. 516

15 Claims.

This invention relates to ironers of the type usually designated as a press ironer in view of the fact that two relatively movable pressing elements are employed in much the same fashion as the conventional type pressing machine, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a domestic ironer having novel means for causing a movement of one of the elements across the face of the other as pressure is being applied, whereby a sheen is created upon the fabric being pressed.

Another important aim of this invention is the provision in such an ironing device of unique locking and latching means for securing the movable element of the ironer in one of a number of predetermined positions with respect to the stationary element and for holding the said movable element in place against the stationary buck after the desired amount of pressure has been exerted between the two.

A further object of this invention is the provision of unique structural elements for performing the function of both forcing the movable element toward the stationary one and simultaneously moving the said movable element slightly across the face of the stationary buck for the purpose hereinabove set down.

The unique structure embodying the invention includes a large number of minor, yet important, objects, and these will be made apparent during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a press ironer embodying this invention.

Fig.2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the ironer, with the casing removed to reveal the operating parts.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, central, sectional view through the ironer.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and, v

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit employed in the ironer.

Like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views and the numeral It] indicates a platform-type base, upon which is rigidly mounted a bracket l2 formed to present a guide slot [4 and a bearing for shaft l6 which pivotally supports arm I8. A spring 26 serves as a counterbalancing and yieldable retaining means for arm l8 and its associated parts and has one end in engagement with shaft I6, while the other end engages bracket 12.

A stationary buck 22 is mounted upon base I and held thereabove by a standard 24, and this buck is covered with the usual fabric case 26, under which is positioned the conventional type pad 28. A movable head 36 having an element 32 housed therein is supported by arm I6 through the medium of a plurality of upstanding pins 34, each of which has a head thereon in the form of a nut 36 which may be adjusted to the desired position for the purpose of tensioning a spring 38, one of which is coiled about each of pins 34 be- 10 tween arm I 8 and the respective head 36. Arm I8 is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 3 to present a space between the legs 46 thereof which receives the hereinafter described operating lever 42. Pivoting arm [8 about shaft l6 moves head 30 toward and from buck 22 and the parts may be locked together so that the surfaces of the two pressing elements 22 and 36 respectively are the proper predetermined distance apart.

It is desirable to provide in ironers of this character, appropriate means for holding the surfaces of the pressing elements in proper spaced relation. This space is altered by the operator in accordance with the character of the materials being pressed and to fulfill this feature, unique, simple 25 and effective mechanism is provided in the form of a latch 44 that is pivotally mounted to arm l8 and depends therefrom, as shown in Fig. 4. The depending end of latch 44 is housed within bracket I2 and latch 44 rides through the guide slot 14. A shoulder 46 is formed near the lower end of latch 44 and is adapted to engage one of a series of surfaces formed on a cam 46, disposed in the path of travel of latch 44. Surfaces 56, 52, and 54 may be created along the underside of the overhanging, substantially arcuate wall of cam 48, and when shoulder 46 is brought into engagement with face 56, the surfaces of pressing elements 22 and 30 are apart the maximum distance permitted by this mechanism. When shoulder 46 engages surface 54 the faces of pressing elements 22 and 30 are as close together as the mechanism will draw them, and when surface 52 is engaged by shoulder 46, an intermediate position is assumed by the two pressing elements.

In order to set cam 48, it is positioned upon a shaft 56 which extends to a grip 58, disposed near an appropriate designating scale 60. Shaft 56 is journalled for rotation in bearings 62 and 64, and since cam 43 is rigidly secured by a key or similar member 66 to shaft 56, rotation of the said shaft will adjust cam 48 so that one of the surfaces 56, 52 or 54 might be engaged by shoulder 46.

Latch 44 is urged to the engaging position by a 55 leaf spring 68 mounted upon the head 10 of latch 44 in a manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. One end of the leaf spring 68 is secured as shown and the other end is engaged by an ear I2 mounted upon lever 42 and beneath an overhanging member I4 so as to permit the freedom of movement desired in the operation of the machine.

After the head 38 is drawn down against the work, latch 44 and cam 48 will be interengaged to hold the pressing head in such position. Pressure is then manually exerted by forcing head 39 down against buck 22. After the desired amount of pressure is established, a lock will hold the pressing elements together until released. In exerting this downward pressure there is also created a lateral movement on the part of head 38. The results just set down are obtained by the employment of lever 42 which is pivotally mounted upon arm I3 between'legs 48 thereof. Pins 16 so support lever 42 and also hold cams I8 against the faces 89 of rails 82. These faces are inclined, as shown in Fig. 5, and as cams I8 are rotated about the axis of pins I6, cams 18 not only urge buck 39 downwardly, but also laterally across the face of buck 22.

As such action takes place, the rearwardly extended end of lever 42 travels near ratchet 84. This end of lever 42 has a plunger 86 slidably mounted therein and pressed outwardly by a spring 88 so that the inclined end of plunger 86 will be drawn across the teeth of ratchet 84. When the pressing elements are brought together with the desired force, they will be held until release by the interengagement of ratchet and plunger 84 and 86 respectively. Ratchet 84 is mounted upon arm I8, as is lever 42, and lever 42 has an operating handle 98 pivotally mounted thereon so as to reciprocate rod 92, one end of which is pivotally joined as at 94 to handle 90. This rod 92 extends longitudinally through hollow lever 42 into engagement with plunger 86.

The connection between plunger 86 and rod 92 issuch as to allow a certain amount of free movement of rod 92 before it serves to move plunger 86. In this manner, operating handle 98 will hold plunger 86 out of engagement with the: teeth of ratchet 84 until the upper end of operating handle 99 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4.

A cross pin and slot construction at the point of connection between rod 92 and plunger 86 will accomplish this desired action.

After the fabric has been left between the pressing elements a sufficient length of time, handle 98 is moved back about its pivotal point 96 and plunger 86 is thereby withdrawn from engagement with the teeth of ratchet 84. The raising of the forward end of lever 42 will release the upward force exerted beneath the free end of leaf spring 68 so that shoulder 45 will move from engagement with cam 48. At this juncture spring 2 will assist in raising arm I8 and all associated parts upwardly from buck 22 and the operator may assist this action by holding grip 98. A stop I88 is mounted upon lever 42 to preclude forcing the forward end thereof down around shaft I6 too great a distance. Obviously, springs 38 will function to keep the faces of cam I8 and rails 82 in constant frictional engagement. Slots I92 formed in legs 40 of arm I8 receive pins 34 and allow the lateral movement as heretofore described.

Suitable elements 32 in head 30 supply heat to the iron and the face of the head should be of polished sheet metal such as aluminum. A

cover or case I 04 should house most of the working parts associated with the movable buck and a switch I96 mounted on case I84 will serve to open and close the electrical circuit. A pilot light I08 mounted upon case I94 will be a visible signal that the current is passing through the element 32 and heating the iron, and manually operable member IIB is made available to interpose in the circuit a suitable amount of a resistance element or similar means I I2 that will vary the heating action of element 32.

The wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. '7 exemplifies the position of these last mentioned parts in the circuit and the necessary conduits in the form of wires to connect these parts should be supplied and altered to suit conditions.

Operation The distance between buck 22 and head 38 when member 44 and cam 48 are in the latched position should be determined by the operator and cam 48 set after the thicknes of the fabric being ironed is determined. The proximity of movable head 30 to buck 22 is such as to exert but very little pressure upon the fabric when head 38 is pulled down so that members 44 and 48 are interengaged. This initial movement will condition the parts so that the fabric will remain in place and be held against slipping while the sec- 0nd movement of applying pressure is carried on. Pressing down on lever 42 will force head 38 down against the fabric which is resting upon buck 22 and the herein described progressive lock will automatically secure the head in place. Obviously,

member 44 being in engagement with cam 48 will preclude any upward movement of the assembly about the axis of shaft I6. To release the parts from the locking position, handle is moved back to disengage members 84 and 88 and the raising of lever 42 will release the force exerted beneath the end of spring 68 so that shoulder 46 will move away from cam 48. After both of these latches are unlocked, arm I8 and all parts associated therewith may move about the axis of shaft I6.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; pressure-exerting means for forcing the head toward and across the face of the stationary buck as the means is manually manipulated; and a latch having means to render the latch progressively operable as the buck is moved to hold the head against the stationary buck as the means is manipulated and after the pressure and cross movement occurs.

2. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; a latch member on the head; an adjustable latch cam in the path of travel of the latch member; and means for adjusting the cam for positioning different portions of the face of said cam in a location to engage the latch member, whereby different degrees respectively of pressure between the said buck and head are necessary before the latch becomes operative to hold the head and buck together. 7

3. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; means for securing the head against the stationary buck after establishing. the desired amount of pressure therebetween; and means for forcing together the buck and head comprising a plurality of cams adjacent said head, a plurality of respectively coacting cam faces formed on the head and a lever to actuate the first mentioned plurality of cams whereby transverse and lateral force is imparted to the head as the cams are actuated, said lever having a manually releasable and automatically engageable locking element to hold the parts in position after the final desired pressure between the buck and head is obtained.

4. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; means for securing the head against the stationary; buck after establishing the desired amount of pressure therebetween; and means for further forcing together the buck and head comprising a plurality of cams bearing against said head, a lever to actuate the cams, a locking element carried by the lever, a ratchet engageable by the locking element as the lever is manipulated to force the head against the stationary buck, and a handle mounted on the lever joined to the said locking element to release the same from engagement with the said ratchet.

5. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; means for securing the head against the sta tionary buck after establishing the desired amount of pressure therebetween; and means for further forcing together the buck and head comprising a plurality of cams bearing against said head, a lever to actuate the cams, a locking element carried by the lever, a ratchet engageable by the locking element as the lever is manipulated to force the head against the stationary buck, and a handle mounted on the lever joined to the said locking element to release the same from engagement with the said ratchet, said locking element having a spring normally pressing the same against said ratchet as the head is moved toward the stationary buck.

6. An ironer of the character described comprising a supporting base and bracket assembly; a stationary buck on the said assembly; an arm pivotally mounted on said assembly and extending over the said stationary buck; a head having a heating element therein mounted on the arm for movement toward and from said stationary buck; a lever pivotally carried by the arm operable to exert force against the said head to press the same against the stationary buck; and a latch having means comprising a spring-actuated plunger and a ratchet automatically operable to hold the said buck and head together after a desired amount of pressure is established therebetween.

7. An ironer of the character described comprising a supporting base and bracket assembly; a stationary buck on the said assembly; an arm pivotally mounted on said assembly and extending over the said stationary buck; a head having a heating element therein mounted on the arm for movement toward and from said stationary buck; a lever pivotally carried by the arm operable to exert force against the said head to press the same against the stationary buck; and a latch having means comprising a spring-actuated plunger and a ratchet automatically operable to hold the said buck and head together after a desired amount of pressure is established therebetween, said head and arm being interconnected by pins. rigidly mounted on the head and intersecting the arm, heads on the said pins and springs interposed between the said pin heads respectively and said arm.

8. An ironer of the character described comprising a supporting base and bracket assembly; a stationary buck on the said assembly; an arm pivotally mounted on said assembly and extending over the said stationary buck; a head having a heating element therein mounted on the arm for movement toward and from said stationary buck; a lever pivotally carried by the arm operable to exert force against the said head to press the same against the stationary buck; a latch operable to hold the said buck and head together after a desired amount of pressure is established therebetween; and a handle pivotally mounted on the-said lever to release said latch upon manual manipulation thereof.

9. An ironer of the character described comprising a supporting base and bracket assembly; a stationary buck on the said assembly; an arm pivotally mounted on said assembly and extending over the said stationary buck; a head having a heating element therein mounted on the arm formovement toward and from said stationary buck; a latch operable to hold the said buck and head in desired proximity to each other, said latch comprising an adjustable cam on the base and a latch on the arm engageable with the cam; and a lever pivotally carried by the arm operable to exert force against the head to press the same against the stationary buck.

10. An ironer of the character described com prising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; means for securing together the said head and buck after being disposed in desired proximity to each other; means for further forcing to gether the said head and buck after the said securing means has become effective; means for automatically locking together the said head and buck after the said further force is exerted to create the desired amount of ironing pressure therebetween; means for manually releasing the said last mentioned automatic locking means; and means associating the said securing means and automatic locking means for releasing the former as the latter is moved to a fully unlocked position.

11. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; means for securing the head against the stationary buck after being disposed in desired proximity to each other; means for further forcing together the buck and head comprising a plurality of cams bearing against said head and a manually operable lever movable to actuate said cams; and another securing means having structure comprising a spring-actuated plunger and a ratchet for further and automatically locking together the said head and buck in any one of a number of positions after further forcing together occurs.

12. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; and a latch to secure the head in place after movement to desired proximity to the buck having an arm, a spring to urge the arm toward the locking position and an adjustable catch for the arm whereby to hold the head and buck with a predetermined amount of space therebetween.

13. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; a latch to secure the head in place after movement to desired proximity to the buck having an arm, a spring to urge the arm toward the locking position and an adjustable catch for the arm whereby to hold the head and buck with .a predetermined amount of space therebetween; and another securing means for further locking together the said head and buck in any one of a number of positions after forcing together occurs.

14. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; releasable means for securing together the head and buck after movement of the head to desired proximity to the buck; and securing means for further locking together the said head and buck in any one of a number of positions after forcing together occurs and while the first mentioned securing means is operating.

15. An ironer of the character described comprising a stationary buck; a head mounted for movement toward and from the stationary buck; pressure-exerting means for forcing the buck and head together having elements formed to Iaterally move the head with respect to the buck as the pressure is applied; and a latch having a spring-actuated member constantly urged to the locking position for securing together the buck and head when a desired amount of pressure is applied and subsequent to the occurrence of the said lateral relative movement of the buck and head.

NOLAND BERNARD REES. 

